Year of Founding: The Third Year of Konoha's Establishment
Month: April
Kenichi Sato's Age: 7 Years Old
As life returned to the village of Konoha after a long winter, cherry blossoms bloomed along the edges of the paths, and the academy prepared to welcome students for a new school year.
The air carried the scent of damp earth, mixed with the sounds of laughter and footsteps running about, while Kenichi walked toward the academy's old wooden gate with his usual calm. His bag was slung over his back, and his eyes scanned every small detail.
The holiday had passed, but it was no rest for him. It was a silent battlefield, in which he had won many rounds against himself.
Inside, he knew this year would be different.
—
From the very first day, he noticed a change in the way the teachers treated him. One of them smiled upon seeing him and said, "Ah, Kenichi… Glad you're back."
While in class, he felt some eyes watching him more consciously, as if something had shifted in their perception of him.
"Did something about me reach the administration?" he wondered.
Even though he hadn't shown any exceptional abilities last year, his consistency alone had set him apart. He never missed a day, was never late, and maintained a steady level without showing off.
But this year, he planned something bigger.
He decided to start slowly increasing his visible skill level—just enough to be placed among the advanced students, without drawing suspicion.
In chakra control exercises, he quickly rose to the second level. And in taijutsu class, he showed a surprising speed in dodging.
One student whispered, "He was normal last year… right?"
Another replied, "Maybe he was pretending… or training in secret."
—
At the end of the first week, the Golden Lottery System returned.
Kenichi entered his room, closed the door, and sat cross-legged in his usual corner. He closed his eyes, and the golden light appeared before him.
> [Congratulations! The Second Annual Draw has been activated.]
[Analyzing physical and mental state...]
[Adjusting reward tier to match user's current stability...]
This time, he felt the system was responding to him on a deeper level. It wasn't just a machine of luck anymore—it was a presence that understood him.
> [Reward Obtained: Water Breathing Style – from the world of Demon Slayer]
He opened his eyes.
"This… is unexpected."
He knew this style well. He had read about it and studied it theoretically in his previous life. But now, he felt his body instantly respond the moment he took a deep breath.
His lungs moved differently. His pulse aligned with a new rhythm, as if his soul began to move like water.
The next day, while practicing wooden sword techniques in the yard, he slowly tried the new breathing method.
There wasn't an immediate effect… but something in his strikes became smoother.
Then came the problem.
The more precise his water breathing became, the heavier his hands felt. The issue wasn't with the technique—it was with the sword itself.
The instructors noticed Kenichi wasn't holding the sword steadily. His grip trembled slightly, and his movements didn't align with his upper body. Even when he copied the teacher's technique perfectly, his strikes didn't land cleanly.
One instructor said, "He understands the technique, but he doesn't have a natural talent for swordsmanship."
The phrase "doesn't have talent" echoed in his mind for hours.
That night, back home, he sat in front of his notebook and wrote:
> "If the sword isn't my path… the breathing still belongs to me. I must find a way to make breathing a weapon on its own."
From that moment, he began developing a new direction.
Instead of relying on the sword, he started applying sword movements with his bare hands, using the waves of breathing to enhance the precision of his strikes, his reaction speed, and even his physical force in close combat.
—
One day during training, Kenichi stood at the edge of the yard, trying out a unique exercise: a circular movement with a forward step and a low stance, followed by a palm strike that pushed air—powered by the rhythm of water breathing.
He didn't realize that Tobirama Senju happened to be passing the far side of the yard at that very moment.
The Second Hokage paused briefly, watching the boy move with astonishing focus—his breathing steady, his pulse unwavering even as he moved.
But he said nothing. He didn't interfere.
Kenichi was so immersed in his training, he sensed nothing around him.
When he finally lifted his head, no one was there.
But he felt… as if an eye had been watching him.
That night, he wrote:
> "Even without a sword… water doesn't need a sharp edge."
> "If someone saw me today… maybe it's time I begin building my own style."
End of Chapter Seven.